The Day After

Chapter 3: The Day After

Hermione woke in the morning and looked at the deep, blue fabric that made up the underside of her canopy. The curtains on her bed were pulled tightly closed, but a sliver of light seeped through on one side between curtain and canopy. The ripples of canopy pleating made her think of the ocean.

She wrinkled her nose. She smelled food. She wasn't sure why she smelled food.

She sniffed and there it was again: the distinct smell of bacon. She felt Crookshanks stir beside her and give a tiny morning mew.

She pulled back the heavy curtain of her bed to find a wooden tray set with a breakfast of eggs, bacon, toast, and pumpkin juice in a wooden goblet. A single pink rose lay on the tray beside her plate. Next to the rose was a pair of green knitted socks with the same pattern of knot work that was on her bathroom door panel. They actually looked wearable. Dobby was getting much better.

Hermione smiled as she reached for the tray. She would have to thank Dobby later for his thoughtfulness.

As she carefully pulled the tray to her lap, Crookshanks showed sudden interest and padded over.

"Shoo, Crookshanks," Hermione said, gently pushing his curious nose away from her bacon. She tossed a small piece on the floor and he followed it with a muffled thump onto the floor.

As Hermione ate, she wondered if breakfast in bed was going to be a normal occurrence now she was a teacher's wife.

No. That couldn't be right. The other teachers were always at breakfast and no one else had a spouse that resided at Hogwarts.

At least, not that she knew of.

She shook her head to clear it. She would have to speak to Dobby later, although having breakfast brought to her certainly did give her more time to prepare for the day.

She finished eating and rose out of bed with a mighty stretch. She slipped out of bed and padded over to a light blue wardrobe in her sock feet. She opened it and found her things had been arranged neatly within. The worn, brown leather trunk she packed for school was on the floor of the wardrobe, her shoes arranged on top of it.

After she dressed in her school robes, she brushed her hair and teeth before going back to her wardrobe. She reached in and pulled out a lightweight, black, school-approved cloak.

The dungeons were drafty, and although she found her new quarters quite cozy, she suspected the walk to the main body of the castle would be quite chilly. She was beginning to understand why Snape wore so many layers.

She grabbed her book bag and placed her hand on a plain pewter panel near the location of the portal leading out of her rooms. Unsurprisingly, the portal opened, and Hermione stepped out into the common room she now shared with Snape.

She was greeted by the sight of her husband's butt.

He was on all fours looking under the coffee table. It wasn't an altogether unpleasing sight, Hermione decided.

She stared for a moment before she remembered herself.

"Do you need help?" she asked inquisitively. She jumped as he banged his head on the underside of the table.

"I seem to have lost my favorite pen," Snape said, scowling as he rubbed his head.

"I have extra quills--" Hermione started as she began poking through her bag.

"I break quills," Snape interrupted, poking his hand under the couch. "This is a blown glass pen from Italy."

Crookshanks jumped on the couch with something that resembled a knitting needle in his mouth.

"Oh," said Snape, looking pleased. "Thank you." He took a green and black glass pen gently from Crookshanks.

Hermione snorted. "He probably stole it in the first place."

"Don't steal my pens." Snape shook a finger firmly at the cat in front of him.

Crookshanks sniffed the finger and began scratching himself on it.

"It's a lost cause, isn't it?" Snape asked with a deep sigh as he scratched the fluffy cat behind his ears.

"Probably," said Hermione, looking into her bag to make sure Crookshanks hadn't taken her quills as well. "Just keep it safe from now on."

"Naughty kitty," Snape said firmly, but continued scratching Crookshanks behind the ears. "By the way, the oddest thing happened this morning."

"What?" Hermione asked as she glanced at a clock on the wall. Plenty of time to check in with Ron and Harry before Herbology.

"My breakfast was ready and near my bed," Snape said with a quirk of an eyebrow. "And whoever put it there seems to think I need more creative footwear."

"Dobby," Hermione groaned. "I'll talk to him."

"Thank you," Snape said as he packed a small black satchel with papers. "I'll see you in class."

"Until then, Professor," Hermione said.

"Please call me Severus when we're not in class," Snape said quietly, looking in his bag. "If we want this to work, we have to be convincing. If the Ministry suspects we have a sham marriage, they can seize you and keep you in custody until your state appointed husband shows up for you. We need to act as if we are, at least, socially familiar."

"Well then," said Hermione slowly as she tried to fight back a chill over the idea of a state appointed husband. "Until then, Severus."

"Until then, Hermione."

-+-+-

Hermione approached Ron and Harry on the grassy hillside overlooking the Herbology greenhouses. Ron was practically hopping up and down with anxiety.

"He didn't do anything inappropriate," said Hermione in an annoyed tone. "Knock it off."

Ron let out a sigh of relief and she shot him a disgusted look. Harry grinned at her. They entered Greenhouse 5 and slipped on their work robes.

"Probably nice, having private quarters," Harry mused as he pulled a brown cap out of his things. He tried to flatten and pull his untamable hair back as much as he could before slipping it on.

"It's actually quite nice," said Hermione, rummaging through her bag for her dragon hide gloves. "Do you know Snape has the quarters Helga Hufflepuff built?"

"Wow," said Ron, suddenly interested. "She was supposed to be really keen on enchantments."

Hermione nodded. "It's pretty impressive."

She described her room, complete with yawning cat and pewter panels for opening doors.

"I bet that's not even a tenth of it, Hermione," said Ron excitedly. "I'd poke everything you could in there."

"Well, that's a good idea," Harry laughed. "Go ahead, Hermione. Thousand-year-old enchantments. Don't know what they do. Go ahead, give it a poke!"

Hermione laughed as Ron turned pink.

"Thanks for the advice guys," Hermione said with a grin as Professor Sprout approached her station at the long table. "I'll be sure to keep it all in mind."

-+-+-

"I'm so sorry, Hermione," said Lavender as Hermione approached the Gryffindor table at lunch. Lavender looked as if she were going to cry.

"For what?" Hermione asked, startled. She sat next to Lavender and put her hand on her back. "What's happened?"

"I mean... having to..." Lavender shuddered, looking at the teachers table.

Hermione glanced at the teacher's table and caught Snape's eye. He frowned sternly at the Gryffindor table. Hermione bit back a laugh.

"You know," Lavender whispered as she put an arm around Hermione and held her tight.

"He really isn't horrible," said Hermione with a sigh as she returned the hug. "Just... private. And has very few social skills."

Parvarti shrugged. "My grandparents' marriage was arranged. They learned to fancy each other after awhile."

"Really?" Lavender asked incredulously. "I couldn't imagine."

"Enough to have seven kids," Parvarti went on, reaching for a muffin. "You never know. They're still married."

Hermione bit into an apple. She didn't want to think of having grandchildren with Severus. Or children for that matter. That would mean they would have to...

"I hope he didn't force himself on you," said Lavender with a stern look.

"He was a perfect gentleman," said Hermione hotly.

"Of course he was," said Parvarti quickly. "He is civilized, after all."

-+-+-

Severus sat at the Head Table watching the Gryffindors eating their lunch. The seventh-year girls seemed unusually animated. Hermione seemed to be handling the situation well, and it looked like Miss Patil was trying to diffuse things, thank God.

He looked at his plate and began pushing his food around.

Once again he was the subject of ridicule.

Nearly all the students, with the exception of a few pure-bloods, thought he was a pervert. Half the staff was being rather formal with him.

"It will pass, Severus," said a voice near his left ear as a hand fell of his shoulder. Snape turned his head to see Professor Dumbledore.

"I know," said Snape, pressing his lips together tightly. "It just seems to take longer every time."

"There is a Quidditch game this evening," Dumbledore said lightly as he clapped Snape on the back. "That will distract them a bit."

"Perhaps," said Severus thoughtfully. "But perhaps it's an opportunity to appear as normal as we possibly can."

-+-+-

"Madam Snape, would you stay for a moment after class?" Severus said as seventh-year Potions ended.

So it was Madam Snape when they were in class, was it? Hermione was actually a little surprised that she was still allowed to be taught by her new husband. Perhaps it was because she already had a history of being the second best Potions student in the school, bested only by Draco Malfoy.

Neville looked at Hermione as if he were truly sorry before gathering his things and leaving the classroom with the rest of the students. Hermione found herself alone with her husband.

"There's a Quidditch match tonight," Severus said in a low voice. He rustled through the scrolls that were spread over his desk. "You should accompany me in the staff box. It will help reinforce this ruse."

"Of course," Hermione said, letting out a breath of relief. She didn't know what she had been expecting, but it wasn't an invitation to a Quidditch match. "That would be nice."

-+-+-

Hermione changed into heavier black robes and examined herself in the long mirror on the inside of the door of her wardrobe. She knew she'd be under scrutiny tonight, at least from the rest of the school if not a reporter or two looking for a story.

She pinned her hair up and arranged a gold and burgundy scarf over her head and around her neck. She pinned it in place with a small gold lion pin before she grabbed her black school cloak and walked into her receiving room to meet her husband.

Severus was sitting on the couch, small, pewter, half-moon spectacles perched on his nose. He was liberally marking scrolls with comments in green ink. Crookshanks was curled up next to him, purring deeply.

Both looked up as she walked into the room, Severus looking over the tops of his glasses at her.

"Think it might be a bit cold?" Severus asked, peering at her.

"Better safe than sorry," said Hermione stiffly. "It was quite breezy today." She looked at the pile of scrolls in front of him. "Are you even going to be able to go?"

"Yes." Severus sighed as he set his glass pen down. Crookshanks eyed it. "Sometimes it's like trying to push water uphill."

"What year?" Hermione asked as she walked to the table and picked up a scroll.

"Sixth," said Severus in a tired voice. He put his pen down and rubbed his eyes. "Properties of cardiospermum."

"Well this one is awful," said Hermione wrinkling her nose in distaste. "Did this one even bother to open his book?"

Severus snorted. "I think I should make them do it again, but twice as long." He rose to grab his cloak.

"What do you think that's going to solve?" Hermione asked, tossing the offending scroll back on the table. She fought back the urge to wipe her hand on her cloak.

"What?" Severus asked sharply. He threw his heavy black cloak over his shoulders.

"It's not going to do any good to have terrible essays twice as long," Hermione said, looking in disgust at the pile of scrolls. "Give them a project so they can really see it."

"Those are expensive ingredients to waste on blunt-witted fools," Severus said, reaching for a black knitted hat.

"So have a competent pair do it and have the rest of the class discuss and take notes," Hermione said.

"Perhaps," said Severus, pulling gloves on.

-+-+-

"Where's Hermione?" Lavender asked Parvarti as her eyes scanned the stands.

"Probably with Snape." Parvarti shrugged as she tried to get a glimpse of Harry as the Gryffindor team took the field.

"She is!" Lavender squealed as she spotted Hermione in the staff box. "I don't know how she can stand it!"

"It could have been a lot worse," said Parvarti. She nodded toward the Slytherin stands where Goyle was openly glowering at the staff box.

"I guess you're right," Lavender said with a shiver. "Somehow I doubt her other suitors would be as gentlemanly as she claims Snape is." She shook her head resignedly. "Whoever would have thought it?"

-+-+-

Hermione watched in comfort as Ravenclaw and Gryffindor took the field. The wind had picked up, and she and Severus were the only ones besides Dumbledore that weren't shivering in the chill air.

"Good call," Severus said under his breath as he did a tricky little charm that warmed their seats before he reached under his cloak for a packet of crisps. He opened it and offered it to Hermione before taking a few for himself.

Severus looked up as the whistle blew. Ravenclaw scored almost immediately.

"Blast!" Hermione and Severus said in unison.

Hermione looked at Severus.

"I have a Galleon riding on this game," he admitted.

"You bet on Gryffindor?" Hermione asked with a quirk of her lips.

"Professor Sprout insisted Ravenclaw was going to sweep the game," sniffed Severus.

"So you bet her a Galleon Gryffindor would win?" Hermione asked, watching Ravenclaw score again.

"Yes," said Severus, visibly annoyed. "Damn."

-+-+-

"Wow, Harry," Hermione said to Harry in the Gryffindor common room.

Harry just shook his head. Catching the Snitch hadn't even mattered. At that point they just wanted the game to end so they could hide in their common room.

"Where did they find her?" Ron asked blankly. He was still wearing his uniform, and he kept turning his helmet over and over in his hands.

"She's a second year," said Dean Thomas dully. "She wouldn't have even been there if Owens hadn't gotten injured in the last game."

"She'll be a permanent team member for sure after this," said Seamus sadly. He was tearing apart a paper napkin into tiny pieces.

No one was eating the food they had prepared for the victory party that wasn't.

"Are you OK, Hermione?" asked Neville under his breath as the other boys discussed how to destroy Ravenclaw in the last game of the season. He had slipped into the empty spot next to her on the couch in front of the fireplace.

"I'm alright," said Hermione giving him a small smile and a pat on his leg. "He isn't unkind, you know."

"That's good," said Neville. "You know, you can petition for an annulment after 6 months if you want. As long as you don't get pregnant." His face turned red.

"But then I'm open for bids again," said Hermione as she shook her head. "That might end up worse."

"True," admitted Neville quickly. "But by then most of us will be over age and we can petition for you. At least a few of us are bound to get through."

"Thank you, Neville," Hermione said sincerely. "I'll keep it in mind."

-+-+-

"How was the condolence party?" Severus asked, smirking as Hermione returned to their chambers.

Galleon or no, he was still cheerful when Harry was miserable.

"Pretty normal," shrugged Hermione, plunking herself on the couch next to Severus. She noted he had put the scrolls away and he was reading a textbook. "The Weasleys stole food from the kitchen and the team went over new theories until everyone else went to bed."

"Pathetic," Severus said cheerfully as he closed the book and placed it in the bag he packed for his classes.

Crookshanks jumped on the couch between Hermione and Severus and began purring.

"Is he usually this demanding?" Severus asked, scratching him behind his ears. Crookshanks purred deeper and leaned into Severus' hand.

"He usually has a common room full of people to sucker into petting him," Hermione said, shrugging.

"You have gotten spoiled," Severus said to the cat.

Crookshanks gave a tiny squeak of agreement and butted Severus with his head.

"Well, at least you know." Severus shook his head and tried to hide a small smile.

Hermione watched as her long-haired, orange cat walked over the deep black fabric of her husband's clothing, leaving a trail of hair as he went. Severus didn't seem to notice.

"I was thinking," Severus said slowly as Crookshanks settled down in his lap. "Summer will be starting soon and your schooling will be completed. Do you plan on starting a Ministry internship right away?"

"I had thought about taking the summer off," Hermione admitted as she watched Severus idly stroke Crookshanks. "I know it seems silly, but I thought travel would be good for me for a few months. Maybe I can come up with a clear career plan." She blushed slightly. "I don't know if I really want to be working for the Ministry right now."

Severus was inwardly pleased.

If he had to be attached to a student at least he got a sensible one. She was listening to him, even if she came to her own conclusions. She had not had one burst of hysteria, even though he thought it would naturally occur. She had not shied away from him at their wedding, or in their household for that matter. She would make a fine addition to the Order. She seemed to hold up well under duress, Severus concluded.

Yes, of all the students he could be saddled with, she was the best choice, especially with things heating up for the Order.

Voldemort was in seclusion again.

He had been severely weakened and had lost most of his followers, but still he lived, like an annoying germ. He was rumored to be hiding in Siberia, but few were brave enough to go searching for him.

Dumbledore was insisting they strike while the iron was hot, and that involved using some unconventional sources for assistance. Severus could use all the help he could get in that respect. Hermione was the best new recruit for the job, and being legally bound to her would help them avoid all sorts of uncomfortable questions while traveling abroad.

"I'm going east to do some work for the Order this summer," Severus said as he scratched Crookshanks, who was now settled in a large, upside down, orange puddle on his lap. "You certainly are of age, and by then you will be out of school. You are joining the Order?"

He already knew the answer, but if she knew how much of her future had already been plotted out, she might not be as compliant.

"Of course," Hermione said sitting up straighter. Severus tried not to shake his head at her obvious Gryffindor bravery and pride. The young were always ready to fling themselves in harm's way. He inwardly frowned. He'd have to keep that in mind. The last thing he needed was a liability.

"Will you be willing to assist me?" Severus asked, finally looking up from Crookshanks.

"Yes. Where will we be going?" Hermione asked, reaching out to pet Crookshanks.

"St. Petersburg, for starters," said Severus, surprised that she was so totally agreeable. "I don't know where our information will lead us from there. Perhaps nowhere."

"I will be up for the task," said Hermione said proudly.

A little too proudly, in Severus' opinion. He raised an eyebrow at her.

"And I will do my best," she continued, oblivious to Severus' reaction.

"I'm sure you will," said Severus.

He just hoped he wouldn't be returning her corpse back to her parents anytime soon.